Caster



March 11, 1.930. w. F. HEROLD CASTER Filed Deo. 5." 1927 INVENToR. HALTER F HERDLD.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER F. HEROLD, OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEV JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR T THE BAS- SIGK COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPOET, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT CASTER Application filed December 5, 1927. Serial No. 237,661.

The present invention relates to improvements in casters, particularly of the type as disclosed in my U. S. Patent #1,620,658, dated March 15, 1927, in which spring ring retaining means is provided for removably securing a caster .pintle in a caster socket or frame. It is proposed in the present invention to provide improved retaining means for the spring ring to the end that the same may be more economically formed and assembled, and further in which a more positive centering of the retaining means with respect to the pintle bearing will result. It is a further object to provide a structure in which the vbase will be free of perforations, so that it may be of any desired hardness and thickness.

i lVith the above and other objects in view embodimentsof the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and these em- Y bodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed 'out in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a top bearing caster assembly, showing one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the socket frame;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional plan view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 41 is a side elevat-ion of a bottom bearing caster assembly, embodying the present improvements Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the ring retaining means assembled on the base plate and before assembly of the ring;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the `assembled relation of the ring and retaining means; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention. e

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the caster, according to the embodiment shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, is adapted for insertion in a tubular metal leg, and comprises a base I plate or washer 10 having a central aperture,

flanged upwardly as at 11, to provide a bearing for the pintle, and also adapted to secure thespring ring retaining means, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The frame consists of side leg portions 12 and 13, bent at their lower ends about the periphery of the base plate, as at 14e and 15, to secure the frame thereto, and a connecting top portion 16 provided with a central domed portion 17 having a top pintle bearing 18 pressed therein, this bearing being in the form of an inverted cone. I

The detachable ca-ster consists of the usual horn 19 having a caster wheel 20 rotatably carried therein upon an axle 21, and having a pintle 22 secured in its upper transverse portion, the pintle being provided at its lower portion with an enlarged diameter cylindrical portion 23, tapering, as at 24, to the upper smaller diameter portion. At the upper end of the pintle there is provided a cone-shaped recess 25, adapted to engage the center top bearing'18 of the frame.

The pintle retaining means, according to the present embodiment, consists of a split` spring ring 27, adapted to be rotatably retained in relation to the flange 11 and to frictionally grip upon the pintle. For this purpose a cylindrical retaining member 28 nis provided whichv is slightly flanged or peened in at its lower edge, as at 29, and is serrated at its upper portion to provide a series of toothed formations 30. This member is engaged with the base plate about the flange 11, as shown in Fig. ,5, and is secured Yby a series of outwardly bent lugs 31, struck from the flange 11, these lugs engaging the inner surface of the member 28 above the flanged edge 29, and thereby securely connecting it to the base. The ring is thereupon placed within the member 28, above the flange 11, it being noted that in this relation the serrations of the member 28 terminate slightly above the upper surface of the ring; The toothed formations 8O are thereupon bent inwardly into lateral retaining relation above the ring, forming a pocket in which the ring is loosely and rotatably retained, its inner periphery projecting slightly inwardly be made therein,

with respect to the pintle bearing surface` of the flange l1 in the disengaged relation of the pintle. The diameter of the pintle is such that the upper portion will pass freely through the spring ring while the lower portion will expand the ring and be thus held thereby against dropping out of the leg, the ring being snugly'held about the pintle and freely rotatable with the pocket formed by the llange ll and the member 28. The ring firmly retains the pintle against dropping out, but permits it to rotate freely within the socket without impedance.

In Fig. l- I have illustrated a modified form of socket frame in which the present improvements are embodied. In this form the socket includes an inverted U-shap'ed spring frame 32 having a flanged aperture 38 in its upper transverse portion forv receiving the upper end of the pintle, at the lower ends of its side leg portions engaged in slots 35 in the base plate and bent inwardly uponV the under side, to thereby connect the spring frame to thebase plate and permit inward contraction ofthe side 4c leg' portions in their engagedgrelation with the tubular metal leg. 'Ihe base plate is preferably flanged at its periphery as at 36,to provide an annular seat for the tubular leg. The pintle is` provided with a'thru-st bearing base 37 adapted to bear upon the base 10 and is held vertically by the flange 11- of the base plate and the flanged aperture 33 of the spring frame. l/Vhile I have illustrated-these two types ofsoclets, it will be obvious that the invention may be embodied in numerous other types comprising a socket and a removable pint-le. Y

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of construction, in which theflange 11 of the base plate is flanged or peened outwardly at its upperedge, as at 38, into interlocking relation with the inner surface of the member 28, to thereby securely connect said' member to the base plate.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, butit will be obvious that changes may within the'spirit and scope thereof, as'defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire ent is :k Y

l. In a support, a floor engagingv element including a pintle, pintle receiving means adapted' to be secured to a furnitureleg or to secure by Letters Patthe like and including an apertured base, a`

pintle retaining spring ring, and means for retainingsaid ringwithrespectto said hase comprising a pocket forming element secured to and aseries of retaining lugs bent inwardly from said element and adapted .to

confine said ring axially.

2. In a support, a floor engaging element and having lugs 34:'

Vring laterally and adapted tov confine said ring axially. A

Fairfield, and State including a pintle, pintle receiving means adapted to be secured to a furniture leg or the like and including an apertured baseliav-l ingaan annular flange, apintle retaining spring ring, and meansfor retaining said rino' ywith res ect to said base com arisin a pocket forming element disposed about Said flange and secured to said base thereby, said element adapted to confine said ring laterally portion adapted toY conllne spring ring, and means for retaining said ring with res ect to said base comorisifno a D b 4pocket forming element disposed about said said flange including means bent outs engage and'secure said flange, wardly therefrom to element, Vsaid element adapted to confine said In a support,

a floor engaging element including a pintle,

pintleA receiving means vadapted to besecui'ed to a1 furniture leg or the like and including an apertured base having an annular flange, apintle retaining saiinlr rin@ and means forretainin saidrinff' l e in z:

with respect to said base comprising a pocket forming element disposed about said flangel and bentinwardly at its lower edge, said flange including means bent outwardly therefrom above said inwardly' bent lower edge to engage and secure said element, said element adapted to confine said ring laterally and including aportion adapted-.to confine said ring axially. y

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of day of November, 1927.

WALTER F. HEROLD.

4said base and adapted to confine said ring laterally,

of Connecticut, this 7th including a portion Y 

